U.S. patent application number 15/394130 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-05 for active cooling arrangement for power over ethernet arrangements.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nexans. Invention is credited to Thomas Aberasturi, Bradley Hess.
Application Number | 20180191513 15/394130 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61224206 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180191513 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hess; Bradley ; et
al. |
July 5, 2018 |
Active Cooling Arrangement For Power Over Ethernet Arrangements
Abstract
To this end a cable is provided for tandem communication and
power transmission. The cable has a plurality of twisted pair
conductors, a jacket surrounding said twisted pair conductors, and
at least one active cooling element. The at least one active
cooling element is configured to provide a thermoelectric cooling
effect to the cable when one or more of said plurality of twisted
pairs are employed to transfer electrical power in a power over
Ethernet application.
Inventors: |
Hess; Bradley; (Sinking
Spring, PA) ; Aberasturi; Thomas; (Chicago,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nexans |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
61224206 |
Appl. No.: |
15/394130 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/403 20130101;
H01B 7/421 20130101; H05K 7/20 20130101; H01B 11/02 20130101; H04L
12/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/10 20060101
H04L012/10; H01B 11/02 20060101 H01B011/02; H05K 7/20 20060101
H05K007/20 |
Claims
1. A cable, configured for tandem communication and power
transmission, said cable comprising: a plurality of twisted pair
conductors; a jacket surrounding said twisted pair conductors; and
at least one active cooling element, wherein said at least one
active cooling element configured to provide a thermoelectric
cooling effect to said cable when one or more of said plurality of
twisted pairs are employed to transfer electrical power in a power
over Ethernet application.
2. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active cooling
element is any one of a Seebeck element, a Peltier element and a
Thomson element.
3. The cable as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
controller, coupled to said active cooling element to provide
voltage thereto to generate the desired cooling effect.
4. The cable as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cable further
comprises at least one thermometer/thermocouple to monitor the
temperature of said cable, said at least one
thermometer/thermocouple coupled to said controller.
5. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active cooling
element is selected from the group consisting of a cable filler, a
cable component, a foil/wrapper and or a jacket.
6. The cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable is
configured to be included within a cable bundle.
7. A cable bundle, containing at least one cable configured for
tandem communication and power transmission, said bundle
comprising: a plurality of twisted pair cables each having: a
plurality of twisted pair conductors; and a jacket surrounding said
twisted pair conductors; said bundle having at least one active
cooling element, wherein said at least one active cooling element
is positioned among the twisted pair cables, is configured to
provide a thermoelectric cooling effect to said bundle when one or
more of said cables have twisted pairs that are employed to
transfer electrical power in a power over Ethernet application.
8. The cable bundle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cable
bundle includes a central hollow filler element.
9. The cable bundle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said active
cooling element is a "dummy" cable included among said bundle of
twisted pair cables.
10. The cable bundle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cable
bundle has at least two layers with twisted pair cables having the
greatest power throughtput in an outer layer of said two
layers.
11. The cable bundle as claimed in claim 10, wherein said active
cooling element is arranged in said outer layer near said twisted
pair cables having the greatest power throughtput.
12. The cable bundle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said active
cooling element is either one of a conduit or sleeve arranged over
said cable bundle.
13. A power over Ethernet arrangement employing a cable bundle
containing at least one cable configured for tandem communication
and power transmission, said arrangement comprising: a power/signal
transmission unit; at least one device requiring signal and power;
and a cable bundle, the bundle having, a plurality of twisted pair
cables each having: a plurality of twisted pair conductors; and a
jacket surrounding said twisted pair conductors; wherein said
power/signal transmission unit provides power to said at least one
device in an intermittent cycle to reduce the heat generated in
said cable bundle.
14. The power over Ethernet arrangement as claimed in claim 13,
wherein said intermittent cycle for power is a time multiplexing of
the power cycling throughout the cables of bundle 100.
15. The power over Ethernet arrangement as claimed in claim 13,
wherein said cable bundle has any one of an active cooling element,
a cable including an active cooling element or both.
16. The power over Ethernet arrangement as claimed in claim 15,
further comprising a controller, coupled to said active cooling
element to provide voltage thereto to generate the desired cooling
effect.
17. The power over Ethernet arrangement as claimed in claim 16,
further comprising at least one thermometer/thermocouple to monitor
the temperature of said cable bundle, said at least one
thermometer/thermocouple coupled to said controller.
18. The power over Ethernet arrangement as claimed in claim 17,
wherein said controller is connected to said power/signal
transmission unit, wherein said provision of power to said at least
one device in an intermittent cycle is based on either one or both
of temperature and cooling data received from said controller.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/204,583, filed on Jul. 7, 2016, the
entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to power over Ethernet cable
arrangements. More particularly, this invention relates to active
cooling arrangements for power over Ethernet arrangements.
Description of Related Art
[0003] A recent development in communications cabling is the tandem
delivery of power and data signals through a single cable. Although
not always the case, a typical arrangement would utilize a normal
LAN (Local Area Network) twisted pair cable, usually having four
twisted pairs of insulated copper conductors therein. In normal LAN
operations all four pairs are for data communication. However, in
tandem power/data applications some of the pairs are dedicated to
data communications but one or more of the pairs can be used to
deliver power though the same cable. In some cases, a twisted pair
carrying data can also carry power at the same time as the data
transmits via AC (alternating current) and the power transmits via
DC (direct current) so it is possible to split the power and data
signals from one another as needed. Such data/power tandem
arrangements can be used for example with security cameras or VoIP
phones which require a small amount of power as well as data
communication.
[0004] Initially, IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics
Engineers) adopted the 802.3af standard for Power over Ethernet (Or
PoE) which has been widely accepted in the industry setting the
relevant parameters, such as wattage, negotiation
parameters/routines, DC loop resistance etc . . . , for delivering
power in tandem with data. The total amount of power that can be
delivered under this standard is 12.95 W which is adequate for such
basic applications such as the standard VoIP phones and security
cameras noted above.
[0005] However, growing lists of features on devices that are
connected and powered with tandem power/data cables as well as new
communication equipment that likewise can make use of the tandem
power/data through LAN cables, has necessitated even more power
throughput allowance. IEEE 802.8at is an updated standard that
allows for an increase to 25.5 W power (PoE+) to be delivered
through such tandem cables. Another even newer standard is IEEE
802.3bt that sets the parameters for using all four twisted pairs
to simultaneously send data and power. In the conditions according
to this newer standard, cables sending both data and power in some
cases will be delivering as much as 100 Watts. These high rates of
power transmission can lead to the operating temperatures of the
cable exceeding its maximum allowable operating temperature
according to the cables own heat tolerance thresholds. This is
especially true when large numbers of cables are installed together
or bundled adjacent to and abutting one another. Such excessive
heat generation is not only a fire hazard, but also the prolonged
heating causes a degradation of the cable materials (e.g. jackets,
pair insulation etc . . . ) faster than under normal signal
transmission only conditions.
[0006] With this increase in power throughput through one or more
of the twisted pairs of a LAN cable, there is a corresponding
increase in heat that needs to be dissipated from the cables to the
environment. This leads to concerns about fire safety and data
transmission performance and ultimately limits the number of such
tandem operation cables that can occupy a single pathway or be
arranged next to one another in order to stay within the range of
safe operating temperatures. For example the NFPA (National Fire
Protection Association) 70 standard, setting the National
Electrical Code covering these cables, requires that the cables do
not exceed their listed maximum operating temperature which is
typically 60 C.
[0007] As shown in prior art FIGS. 1 and 2, typical LAN cables are
constructed having four insulated twisted pairs, an optional cross
filler (depending on the data signal requirements), and an outer
jacket enclosing the cable. The prior jackets for twisted-pair
cables do not take heat dissipation into consideration, and
therefore, are not optimized for supporting power provided through
one or more of its twisted pairs. Standard cable jackets such as
those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 possess an outer surface that
generally maintains an equal distance from the center of the cable
for the entire length of the cable. When multiple LAN cables are
placed together they touch along their entire longitudinal axis
(longest axis) and entrap the heat generated by the power
conductors as conductive heat transfer is less efficient than
convective heat transfer.
[0008] In the related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/204,583,
and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one arrangement is provided where
the jackets of the cables, used in power over Ethernet applications
have a series of ridges or valleys disposed, circumferentially or
helically around the outer surface of the cable jacket. Such ridges
or valleys are spaced apart from one another over the length of the
cable. These structures, either ridges or valleys generate an air
gap between adjacent cables allowing air to flow between, allowing
the heat released from the one or more powered twisted pairs to
escape more easily through the outer surface of the jacket and to
generate a convection air flow upward around and in between the
cables.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY
[0009] The present arrangement overcomes the drawbacks associated
with the prior art and provides a manner for implementing active
cooling into cable arrangements that implement power over Ethernet.
In one arrangement, elements of the cable structure are fitted with
active cooling arrangements, in the place of, or as part of normal
twisted pair cable structures. In another arrangement, cables
and/or cable bundles are provided with, or are arranged within,
archiving cooling components. Such active cooling arrangements may
be a thermoelectric or similar device/structure that employs any
one of the Seebeck effect, the Peltier effect, and/or Thomson
effect, generally referred to as thermoelectric effects.
[0010] In another arrangement, the supplied power signals are
regulated or staggered through said PoE cable arrangements to one
or more powered items to limit power throughput and consequentially
limit heating of the cable arrangements.
[0011] To this end a cable is provided for tandem communication and
power transmission. The cable has a plurality of twisted pair
conductors, a jacket surrounding said twisted pair conductors, and
at least one active cooling element. The at least one active
cooling element is configured to provide a thermoelectric cooling
effect to the cable when one or more of said plurality of twisted
pairs are employed to transfer electrical power in a power over
Ethernet application.
[0012] In another embodiment, the present arrangement provides for
a cable bundle containing at least one cable configured for tandem
communication and power transmission. The bundle includes a
plurality of twisted pair cables each having a plurality of twisted
pair conductors and a jacket surrounding the twisted pair
conductors. The bundle has at least one active cooling element. The
at least one active cooling element is positioned among the twisted
pair cables and is configured to provide a thermoelectric cooling
effect to the bundle when one or more of the cables has twisted
pairs that are employed to transfer electrical power in a power
over Ethernet application.
[0013] In another embodiment, the present arrangement is directed
to a power over Ethernet arrangement employing a cable bundle
containing at least one cable configured for tandem communication
and power transmission. The arrangement has a power/signal
transmission unit, at least one device requiring signal and power,
and a cable bundle, the bundle having, a plurality of twisted pair
cables. Each twisted pair cable has a plurality of twisted pair
conductors and a jacket surrounding said twisted pair conductors.
The power/signal transmission unit provides power to the at least
one device in an intermittent cycle to reduce the heat generated in
the cable bundle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention can be best understood through the
following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate prior art LAN cables, capable of
supporting tandem power and data communications in the same
cable;
[0016] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a LAN cable, capable of supporting
tandem power and data communications in the same cable with a
jacket having ridges and valleys for heat dissipation;
[0017] FIGS. 5A-5D each illustrates a LAN cable having an active
cooling element, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a LAN cable having an active cooling
element and thermometer(s), in accordance with one embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a LAN cable bundle with a cable having an
active cooling element, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a LAN cable bundle with an active cooling
element, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates a LAN cable bundle with an active cooling
element, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates a LAN cable bundle with an active
cooling element, in accordance with one embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates a LAN cable bundle with an added active
cooling element, in accordance with one embodiment; and
[0024] FIG. 12 illustrates a power over Ethernet arrangement
between a power/signal supplier to devices, via a LAN cable bundle,
in accordance with one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] In one embodiment of the present arrangement a LAN cable is
provided having a cable 10, four twisted pairs 12, each made from
two twisted insulated copper conductors, a cross filler 14, a drain
wire 16 and a jacket 18. Jacket 18 may be constructed from any
suitable polymer such as PVC (PolyVinylChloride) or PE
(PolyEthylene). It is understood that that this form of tandem
power/data communications cable is being shown for illustration
purposes only, but is not intended to limit the scope of the
application. The applicable heat dissipating features as described
below can be applied to any tandem power/data communication cable
arrangement. As indicated in the background, one or more of the
twisted pairs 12 may be used to transmit power. The basic cable
elements of cable 10 are the same as shown in prior art FIGS. 1 and
2. However, beginning with FIG. 5A, such cable 10 is shown with
active cooling arrangements according to the present embodiments,
described in more detail below.
[0026] In some embodiments described herein active cooling
arrangements may be added to cable 10. In other embodiments, active
cooling arrangements may be added or applied over bundles over
ordinary twisted pair cables. In other embodiments such active
cooling arrangements may be combined with active cooling
arrangements applied over cables 10 themselves that have active
cooling arrangements. It is to be understood that the below
described structures and embodiments are combinable as desired by a
cable structure engineer.
[0027] In a first embodiment an active cooling element is
incorporated into the structure of cable itself. The active cooling
structure may be a thermoelectric or similar device employing one
of the Seebeck effect, the Peltier effect, and/or Thomson effect,
generally referred to as thermoelectric effects.
[0028] Generally speaking the thermoelectric effect is the direct
conversion of temperature differences to electric voltage and vice
versa. A thermoelectric device creates voltage when there is a
different temperature on each side, and conversely, when a voltage
is applied to it, it creates a temperature difference.
[0029] There are three main types/varients of the thermoelectric
effect, namely the Seebeck effect, Peltier effect, and Thomson
effect. The Seebeck effect is the conversion of heat/electricity
directly into electricity/heat at the junction of different types
of wire. The Peltier effect is the presence of heating or cooling
at an electrified junction of two different conductors. When a
current is made to flow through a junction between two conductors,
heat may be generated or removed at the junction. In different
materials, the Seebeck coefficient is not constant in temperature,
and so a spatial gradient in temperature can result in a gradient
in the Seebeck coefficient. If a current is driven through this
gradient then a continuous version of the Peltier effect will
occur, referred to as the Thomson effect.
[0030] In the present arrangement, it is contemplated that a
"thermoelectric component" as described hereinafter refers to
either an independent structure or a modified cable structure that
has the requisite structure for exhibiting a thermoelectric effect,
in the present case for the purposes of cooling, when a voltage is
applied thereto, either from an externally connected thermoelectric
controller or possibly from voltages present directly in the
powered pair of cable 10.
[0031] In one embodiment of the present arrangement, as shown in
FIG. 5A, such a thermoelectric component can be integrated in the
cable as central filler 14a (here shown as a cross filler, but can
be any shape). In FIG. 5B, the thermoelectric component can be in
the form of a shield or wrap 20a. In FIG. 5C the thermoelectric
component can be in the form of a portion 18a of the jacket 18. In
FIG. 5D, the thermoelectric component can be in the form of a
physical longitudinal structure 22a (e.g. cylindrical insert),
preferably located in proximity with the power conducting pair
12.
[0032] In each case, such thermoelectric components are coupled to
a thermoelectric controller 24 located on or near cable 10 so as to
provide the required voltages to generate the desired
thermoelectric cooling to offset the heat generated by the power
conducting pair(s) 12.
[0033] In one embodiment in addition to the active cooling elements
(14a, 20a, 18a and/or 22a), as shown in FIG. 6, cable 10 may also
have one or more thermometer/thermocouples 26 located along the
length of cable 10. Such thermostats 26 are coupled with
thermoelectric controller 24 in order to monitor the temperature of
either cable 10, the powered pair(s) 12 or both, so that controller
24 can, as needed, apply voltage to the active cooling elements
(14a, 20a, 18a and/or 22a).
[0034] In another embodiment, FIG. 7 shows a bundle 100 of cables
10. In this arrangement six (6) cables are arranged around a hollow
tube 102. It is noted that, in this and the following embodiments
related to bundles 100 of cables 10, one or more of the cables 10
may be tandem power/communication cables, bundle 100 may have any
number of cables 10 therein depending on the desired application,
an optional binder 104 may be applied as required, and cables 10
may be helically or S-Z stranded. Within bundle 100, a hollow tube
102 may be optionally added for conveying heat from bundle 100,
either by convection or possibly with a fan/compressor (not
pictured) to increase airflow. In each case, such typical LAN cable
bundling arrangements are applicable to the present arrangement.
However, for simplifying the explanation of the following active
cooling arrangements for cable bundles, bundle 100 of FIG. 7 is
used as an exemplary cable bundle model.
[0035] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, instead of hollow
tube 102, the central position of bundle 100 is filled with a
"dummy" active cooling structure 106 that works similar to the
active cooling arrangements that are applied within cable 10 as
discussed above. Here, the cables of bundle 100 may be either
cables 10 as discussed above or otherwise regular prior art Power
over Ethernet cables that do not have their own active cooling
elements (as pictured in FIG. 8). The term "dummy" is used to mean
that the active cooling structure 106 is not a twisted pair cable
but is only similarly dimensioned and is thus named a "dummy"
cable. Never-the-less in this context, it is still an active
thermoelectric cooling structure.
[0036] In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, the "dummy" active
structure 106 may be located outside of the center location,
possibly near cables (or cables 10) that are conducting the most
power and have the most significant heat issues. In FIG. 10, a
larger bundle 100 is shown having two layers of LAN cables 10. In
this arrangement the higher power transmitting cables 10 (or cables
10 if they are actively cooled) are located in the outer layer,
possibly, as shown, with a "dummy" active cooling arrangement as
pictured.
[0037] In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 11, a bundle 100 may
have an active cooling arrangement in the form of a conduit or
sleeve 200 that is placed over bundle 100. Again, the elements
within bundle 100 may be either typical PoE cables or cables 10
that are themselves actively cooled. In any case, in this
embodiment, conduit or sleeve 200 may be a flexible or braided
sleeve, or a rigid conduit as needed for the desired
application.
[0038] In another embodiment, each of the above cables 10 and/or
bundles 100 may, in addition to having active cooling
thermoelectric elements, also be employed with a power controller
that can manage the power being transmitted through the power
conductor pairs 12 of cables 10 in a staggered or intermittent
manner to further reduce the generated heat in such cables
10/bundles 100.
[0039] Such a method may be applied to a single cable (or cable 10)
to manage the power being sent through a single PoE cable.
Alternatively the method may include time multiplexing the power
cycling or power levels throughout the bundle to limit the
temperature of a bundle below a set threshold. This can be
implemented in the form of a software or a hardware
arrangement.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 12, a cable bundle is positioned between a
signal source/power source 300 and an array of devices requiring
signals and power 400. The cable bundle in this case is a cable
bundle 100 that includes an active cooling element therein, and may
optionally include at least one cable 10 that itself includes an
active cooling element. However, it is understood that the present
embodiment may be used in connection with an ordinary PoE
bundle/cable that does not have any active cooling element. In this
exemplary arrangement, bundle 100 has a series of thermometers 126,
similar to that shown above in FIG. 6, along the length of bundle
100. In this case, the active cooling element of bundle 100 (here
in FIG. 12 a dummy element 106 in the bundle as in FIG. 8) as well
as the thermometers 126 are attached to the temperature voltage
controller 24. The voltage temperature controller is also coupled
with the source/power source 300.
[0041] In operation, normal PoE operations are conducted between
power/signal source 300 and devices 400 via bundle 100. However,
instead of performing constant power transmission, as noted above,
power is intermittently transmitted through the different cables 10
of bundle 100 in some form of a staggered manner, including time
multiplexing the power cycling throughout bundle 100. This limits
the overall power throughput through cables 10 of bundle 100 in a
manner to limit heat generation. This can be done automatically, or
it can be done in response to certain triggering thresholds
detected by thermometers 126. Moreover, the power cycling can be
done independently from or in conjunction with cycling or powering
of the various active cooling elements of bundles 100/cables 10 as
controlled by controller 24 to selectively power cycle and actively
cool during periods of higher power consumption.
[0042] While only certain features of the invention have been
illustrated and described herein, many modifications,
substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those
skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this
application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes
that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
* * * * *